627 results about "Subsea" patented technology

A drilling system for drilling subsea wellbores includes a tubing-conveyed drill bit that passes through a subsea wellhead. Surface supplied drilling fluid flows through the tubing, discharges at the drill bit, returns to the wellhead through a wellbore annulus, and flows to the surface via a riser extending from the wellhead. A flow restriction device positioned in the riser restricts the flow of the returning fluid while an active fluid device controllably discharges fluid from a location below to just above the flow restriction device in the riser, thereby controlling bottomhole pressure and equivalent circulating density (“ECD”). Alternatively, the fluid is discharged into a separate return line thereby providing dual gradient drilling while controlling bottomhole pressure and ECD. A controller controls the energy and thus the speed of the pump in response to downhole measurement(s) to maintain the ECD at a predetermined value or within a predetermined range.

A drilling system for drilling subsea wellbores includes a tubing-conveyed drill bit that passes through a subsea wellhead. Surface supplied drilling fluid flows through the tubing, discharges at the drill bit, returns to the wellhead through a wellbore annulus, and flows to the surface via a riser extending from the wellhead. A flow restriction device positioned in the riser restricts the flow of the returning fluid while an active fluid device controllably discharges fluid from a location below to just above the flow restriction device in the riser, thereby controlling bottomhole pressure and equivalent circulating density (“ECD”). Alternatively, the fluid is discharged into a separate return line thereby providing dual gradient drilling while controlling bottomhole pressure and ECD. A controller controls the energy and thus the speed of the pump in response to downhole measurement(s) to maintain the ECD at a predetermined value or within a predetermined range.

A distributed function control module adapted for use in a modular blowout preventer (BOP) stack for use subsea comprises a housing, adapted to be manipulated by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with a stab portion adapted to be received into a BOP stack control module receiver. Control electronics, adapted to control a predetermined function with respect to the BOP stack, are disposed within the housing and connected to one or more controllable devices by a wet mateable connector interface. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of meaning of the claims.

A running tool 10, a lockdown sleeve 27, and a seal ring 24 are provided for axially fixing upward movement of a tubular hanger with respect to a subsea wellhead. The running tool 10 includes a tool latching and unlatching mechanism 51 for axially connecting the running tool to the subsea wellhead housing, a tool force applicator 64 for exerting a downward setting force, and a sleeve latching mechanism 73 for securing the lockdown sleeve to the subsea wellhead housing 20. The seal 24 is provided between the lockdown sleeve and one of the tubular hanger and the wellhead housing. The method of the invention includes running the tool and sleeve in open water to the subsea wellhead housing, locking the tool to the housing, setting the seal, locking the sleeve to the housing, then retrieving the tool in open water.

A well data monitoring system which enables annulus pressure and other well parameters to be monitored in the outer annuli of the well casing program without adding any pressure containing penetrations to the well system. This non-intrusive approach to monitoring pressure and other well parameters in the annuli preserves the pressure integrity of the well and maximizes the safety of the well. In the preferred embodiment an intelligent sensor interrogation system which can be located externally or internally of the pressure containing housing of the wellhead is capable of interrogating and receiving data signals from intelligent well data sensors which are exposed to well parameters within the various annuli of the well and wellhead program.

A system for producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsea formation includes at least one producing well penetrating the formation for producing hydrocarbon fluids. At least one dummy well is hydraulically connected to the at least one producing well for routing the hydrocarbon fluids from the producing well to the dummy well. At least one pump is disposed in the at least one dummy well. The pump takes suction flow from the dummy well and boosts the flow energy of the discharge flow of hydrocarbon fluids.

A free standing riser system includes a riser, a subsea intervention unit, and an umbilical line. The riser includes interconnected joints linked to one another, a lower-end of the riser being coupled to a wellhead and an upper-end of the riser enclosed in a buoy assembly, including a terminal, the riser being maintained in an erect, substantially vertical position. The subsea intervention unit is provided above the riser, and includes three connections: one connection to the terminal of the riser, one connection to a flexible jumper that is connected to a FPU, and one connection that provides a vertical conveyance to an intervention rig.

A susbsea well has communication passages to enable annulus pressure surrounding inner and intermediate strings of casings to be monitored at the surface. The passages both have outlets that allow communication to the tree assembly for monitoring. In one embodiment, the passage outlets are located in the bore of the high pressure well head housing and communicates to the tree assembly along an isolation sleeve. In another embodiment, the passage outlets are located on the exterior of the high pressure wellhead housing and communicate through a flying lead coming down from the tree. In another embodiment, the passage outlets are located on the exterior of the high pressure wellhead housing and communicate to an upward facing connection which is stabbed with a downward facing connection coming down from the tree.

The invention relates to a subsea pipeline leakage monitoring system. The subsea pipeline leakage monitoring system comprises controllers, flow sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors and a center host computer. The inlet end and the outlet end of a pipeline to be monitored are each provided with one flow sensor, one pressure sensor and one temperature sensor. The flow sensor, the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor at the inlet end collect the flow, pressure and temperature signals of the inlet end in real time and send the flow, pressure and temperature signals to the first controller. The flow sensor, the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor at the outlet end collect the flow, pressure and temperature signals of the outlet end in real time and send the flow, pressure and temperature signals to the second controller. The controllers send the signals to the center host computer through an Ethernet switch, the leakage monitoring system inside the center host computer displays the information in real time and judges where the pipeline to be monitored is leaked or not, a leakage alarm is given out when leakage happens, and the leakage amount and leakage position are worked out and displayed. The center host computer sends the received signals and the judgment result to remote monitoring devices.

A submersible and remotely-operable platform system for carrying out repeated operations in a submarine position, and producing electrical energy as either a primary or secondary purpose by means of one or more energy-conversion payload devices installed thereon. The platform and payload devices may be periodically brought to the surface and thence, if necessary, to a shore-based facility for maintenance or refit. In deployment, the platform is preferably engaged to its mooring lines and electrical cables while still on the surface. Simultaneous with controlled flooding of certain of its volumes, the platform is guided to an operational depth and attitude by the action of its winch assemblies upon their engaged mooring lines. Subsea currents energize the platform's payload of energy conversion devices, the electrical output being preferably conveyed via one or more surface-attached cables to an off-board facility for further processing, distribution, or consumption.

Methods and systems for drilling subsea wells bores with dual-gradient mud systems include drilling the subsea well bore while employing a subsea pumping system, a subsea choke manifold and one or more mud return risers to implement the dual gradient mud system. When a well bore influx is detected, the well bore is shut in, and components determine if pressure control may be used to circulate the influx out of the well bore, the size of the influx, and how much the mud system weight will need to be reduced to match the dual gradient hydrostatic head before the influx reaches the subsea pump take point. The subsea pumping system, subsea choke manifold, and mud risers are isolated while the influx is circulated up one or more fluid passages in the drilling riser package using the surface pump, through the wellhead, and out the surface choke manifold.

An offshore well drilling assembly includes a drilling facility or support platform for location at sea. A drilling platform connects to the support platform so the drilling platform is cantilevered from the support platform. The drilling platform extends from the support platform, for positioning over a subsea well. The well drilling assembly includes a staging platform for use in loading and unloading of wellhead equipment. The staging platform is mounted to the drilling platform. The staging platform moves along a side of the drilling platform in directions toward and away from the support platform to a distance over the sea. A method of conveying wellhead equipment uses the staging platform for conveying wellhead equipment between the support platform and a distance over the sea by moving the staging platform along the drilling platform.

This invention relates to a flowline-riser production system for the recovery of hydrocarbons from offshore wells, and a method for pigging the interior surfaces of the riser and flowlines. More particularly, this invention is a piggable flowline-riser system in which a pig is launched from or near a host production facility, down a riser into a looped flowline and returned up through the same riser. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a piggable flowline-riser system for producing hydrocarbons comprising a riser, a “Y” joint and a looped flowline, wherein the looped flowline is in fluid communication with at least one subsea well.

An apparatus and method for increasing and regulating temperature, pressure and fluid viscosities of fluid streams found in oil and gas production. Applicant's apparatus regulates and increases fluid temperatures, by and through improved heating apparatus, which may be placed at one or more locations along a wellbore surface flow line, or subsea flow line. The apparatus preferably either heats fluids flowing from the reservoir to the surface, or alternatively, can heat fluids injected from the surface into the reservoir.

A motion compensator is used on a floating vessel servicing a subsea well. The motion compensator includes a first frame assembly adapted to be connected to a cable extending from a lifting structure. When connected to the cable, the first frame assembly extends longitudinally along an axis substantially parallel with that of the cable. The motion compensator also includes a second frame assembly connected to the first frame assembly. The second frame assembly overlaps a longitudinal portion of the first frame assembly. The first and second frame assemblies are moveable relative to each other and define an expanded position and a contracted position. The motion compensator further includes a piston assembly positioned between the first and second frame assemblies. The piston assembly has a piston chamber and a piston that slidingly engages the piston chamber when the first and second rod assemblies move relative to each other.